Celebrate Peace, Economics, and science winners for Nobel Prize Day 2018

Happy Nobel Prize Day!  I'm going to be a good environmentalist and recycle the description from National Day Calendar.

The Nobel Laureates are announced at the beginning of October each year. A couple of months later, on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, they receive their prizes from the Swedish King – a Nobel diploma, a medal, and 10 million Swedish crowns per prize. All Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, except for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, Norway. (When Alfred Nobel was alive, Norway and Sweden were united under one monarch, until 1905 when Norway became an independent kingdom with its own king.)

Since today is also Human Rights Day, I'm beginning with a video from The Washington Post reporting 2018 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad.

The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Oct. 5 to Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist, and Nadia Murad, a Yazidi activist. Both have worked to place the spotlight on ending sexual violence in armed conflicts.

Congratulations to both, but especially Murad, who I consider to be a hero in the struggle against the Daesh AKA the Sith Jihad.

Next, the winners of the Economics Prize, which isn't really a Nobel Prize, but is important nonetheless.  I have particular reason to celebrate this year, as the Financial Times reported Nobel economics prize winners change how we think about growth.

Technological and environmental change have transformed economies. The FT's Martin Sandbu says next time you marvel at your app or worry about extreme weather give a thought to Paul Romer and William Nordhaus, the winners of this year’s Nobel prize in economics.

Technology and environment in economics — these are definitely on-topic for my blog!  I should probably examine Nordhaus and his ideas in depth in a future entry, as I consider myself a supporter of the field he founded, environmental economics.

Next, the prizes I usually examine first, Chemistry, Medicine, and Physics.  Seeker/DNews describes all three in The Science Nobel Prizes Explained in 3 Minutes.

Science that’s worthy of a Nobel Prize is bound to be complicated. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s winners.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Those readers who pay attention to the Nobel Prizes might notice that the Literature Prize was not awarded this year.  CBC's The National explains why in No Nobel Prize for Literature after sex assault scandal.

There will be no Nobel Prize for Literature awarded this year, because the organization that decides the winner is dealing with a scandal over sexual assault allegations. The Swedish Academy says it will announce the 2018 winner along with the 2019 winner next year.

I did not plan on closing the circle by making the first and last videos about sexual violence; it just worked out that way.  Still, I find it grimly satisfying that the Literature Prize selection committee has to follow the lead of the Peace Prize in fighting against sexual violence.  May they clean up their act enough to be able to award two prizes next year. one for 2018 and another for 2019.